Ordered my first GPS unit.

[+Johnny Thunders]

Hi everyone.

 

I have managed to find my first caches using my mobile phone but decided to treat myself

to a dedicated geocaching gps device. A Garmin Oregon 550t is now on its way to me.

 

I am assuming this will just work straight out of the box, but is there anything you would advise

that I look at with regard to customising it further.

 

Thank you.

[+Triple Crown]

Hi everyone.

 

I have managed to find my first caches using my mobile phone but decided to treat myself

to a dedicated geocaching gps device. A Garmin Oregon 550t is now on its way to me.

 

I am assuming this will just work straight out of the box, but is there anything you would advise

that I look at with regard to customising it further.

 

Thank you.

 

It will work right out of the box but you'll probably want to add street maps since only major roads will be shown on the basemap. City Navigator NT will give you the whole US & Canada for around $80. Linky

 

I would also get a 4GB or larger microSD card to hold your maps.

 

Check out the Oregon Wiki for more info.

[+Johnny Thunders]

Thanks for your reply. I will have a look into the links.

 

I am in the UK. I am assuming I will still need better maps?

[+Triple Crown]

Thanks for your reply. I will have a look into the links.

 

I am in the UK. I am assuming I will still need better maps?

 

Yes. Not sure what's available for the UK & Europe but the built in basemaps have poor street maps.

[+Triple Crown]

Thanks for your reply. I will have a look into the links.

 

I am in the UK. I am assuming I will still need better maps?

 

Yes. Not sure what's available for the UK & Europe but the built in basemaps have poor street maps.

 

Try these: Europe City Navigator and UK & Ireland

Edited August 20, 2010 by Triple Crown

[+Unobtainium]

Before paying for mapping, why not try talky toaster's maps for free. There is a regular thread in the UK and Ireland forum.

 

Also have a look at custom maps, I use Mobile Atlas Creator and find it is great.

[+Johnny Thunders]

Thanks for all the replies. I will have a look at them.

[+pppingme]

It will work right out of the box but you'll probably want to add street maps since only major roads will be shown on the basemap.

 

Its a "T" so it will have terrain maps, which do show all roads and streets, however, the terrain maps aren't route-able.

[+Johnny Thunders]

Thanks for your reply P F. I will give the maps that come pre-installed a try out, but I do like the idea of using it as

a sat-nav too.

 

I have had a look at the maps from talkytoaster and they look good.

I will probably give them a go too.

 

What size of microSD card would you suggest for the 550t? Is there a max or min size limit?

Edited August 21, 2010 by Johnny Thunders

[+Unobtainium]

I have a 4Gb in my 550 and haven't got close to filling it up.

 

I have seen reports of cachers with 16Gb cards working well. The cards are so cheap now, I'd be temped to go with a bigger one because who knows what the next feature that Garmin will introduce and how storage it'll need.

[+Johnny Thunders]

I have managed to get some new maps installed and working. I have also installed my gpx file.

I am OK with how to select a cache and search etc. but I cannot work out how to select a waypoint

as part of a multicache.

Could someone please help me out with this?

 

Thank you.

[+Unobtainium]

'Where to > Waypoints'

 

This is well worth a read and then bookmarking.

[+Johnny Thunders]

That's great Andy. Cheers pal.

[yogazoo]

This link will take you to FREE routable street maps for the entire world. I live in the states but I was looking at the UK region and it's super detailed with not only streets but parks and landmarks as well.

 

http://www.openstreetmap.org/

[+Unobtainium]

The openstreetmap data is what Talky toaster uses to compile his offerings ;-)